EAST LANSING — Both have a shot to be proclaimed the best at their positions nationally — Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio was named one of eight finalists Monday for the Eddie Robinson Award for national coach of the year, and MSU defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi will find out today if he wins the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach.

They’ve been together since 2004 at Cincinnati and have worked together with a close-knit staff to get MSU where it stands today. The Spartans (12-1) have a school record for victories, a No. 4 national ranking (best since 1967), and a pending Rose Bowl trip for the first time since 1988.

And that’s the kind of success that can tear a staff apart. Connecticut is coming after Narduzzi for its head coaching job, Dantonio confirmed Sunday, and if that doesn’t work out, there will be others.

The 47-year-old Narduzzi is one of the hottest commodities on the market, and the stock is rising after Saturday’s 34-24 win over Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis. His group, tops nationally for most of the season in total defense and rush defense, held the Buckeyes to a season-low 374 yards, including 25 yards and 0-for-5 passing in the fourth quarter.

He was on the MSU sideline by then, implored by Dantonio to add emotion and help the defense turn things around after a 151-yard third quarter. Dantonio will not implore Narduzzi to stay in East Lansing if the right opportunity arrives.

After all, Dantonio was once the hot commodity as a defensive coordinator in 2004, leaving Jim Tressel’s staff at Ohio State to take over at Cincinnati.

“He’ll make a tremendous head coach,” Dantonio said of Narduzzi. “But at the same time, I know he’s extremely happy here, and I know our players love him and he loves our players. I went through the same thing. … I’d hate to lose Pat Narduzzi, but I’m in this and I didn’t want Jerel Worthy to go to the NFL. You know, that is the same type of thing. I didn’t want Le’Veon (Bell) to leave or (Will) Gholston to leave.

“When the opportunity comes and the opportunity is so good that you need to take it, then that’s when you take it. But it’s got to be the right opportunity, and Pat understands that and weighs those things out.”

Narduzzi makes $512,500 and has a $250,000 buyout if he leaves MSU for a non-head coaching job. MSU athletic director Mark Hollis said Friday that Dantonio and his staff will receive compensation bumps in the offseason.

Hollis told SiriusXM radio on Monday that MSU is “at a very good position” to provide the resources to maintain staff continuity. He also said Narduzzi is ready to be a head coach – a process Hollis and Dantonio have assisted.

Dantonio’s opposition in the Rose Bowl, Stanford coach David Shaw, also made the cut of Eddie Robinson finalists. The others are Art Briles (Baylor), David Cutcliffe (Duke), Jimbo Fisher (Florida State), Gus Malzahn (Auburn), George O’Leary (Central Florida) and Gary Pinkel (Missouri), and the winner will be announced in one week.

Narduzzi is due to be in Little Rock, Ark., today for the announcement of the Broyles Award winner. The other finalists are Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee, Florida State defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt, Baylor offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery and Duke offensive coordinator Kurt Roper.